With contract negotiations set to begin this spring between the Jefferson Parish School Board and its teachers union, School Board President Mark Jacobs has formed a new committee to improve relations with the union. "We were concerned about the communication between the board and employees," Jacobs said. "We want an open line of communications, not just on contract issues but with employees in general."

Larry Dale

The School Board contract with the Jefferson Federation of Teachers expires June 30. While the two sides would like to reach an agreement by then, contract extensions are not uncommon; in 2009, the two sides extended the existing contract three times before approving a new agreement four months past the original deadline.

The 2012 contract negotiations also could drag out because it's the first for five of the nine School Board members and Superintendent James Meza.

Amid that setting, Jacobs has appointed board member Larry Dale to chair a new employee relations committee and put Michael Delesdernier and Cedric Floyd on the panel. Jacobs said Dale has already begun meeting informally with union President Meladie Munch to discuss some of the issues likely to come up during negotiations.

"Student achievement is the most important part of this process," Jacobs said. "We want the contract to enable us to have a higher performing school system. The goal is to insure that we have the best possible resources available for our teachers to excel in the classroom."

Dale said he began meeting with Munch about six months ago to discuss teacher-related issues. At the time, the two sides were embroiled in lawsuits over employee furlough days and the school system's decision to lay off 54 teachers based on performance rather than seniority. The latter suit is tentatively scheduled for arbitration in February and trial in March.

Based on his meetings with Munch, Dale said he thinks the two sides are on the same page about moving the school system forward. Jefferson is ranked 52nd out of 70 school systems in Louisiana. School officials and board members said that is unacceptable.

"The main thing that I want us to agree on is that we both have an unwavering commitment to student achievement," Dale said.

He said most Jefferson teachers do an excellent job but that officials need the tools to fire inferior teachers, regardless of seniority.

"We need to make sure we have the best teachers in front of our kids," Dale said.

"Student achievement will be the driving factor (in contract negotiations) but with a good healthy respect for teachers."

Munch said teacher respect will be key to a successful negotiation. "What I always remind (board members) of is that teachers want to be treated consistently and fairly."

Next month, she said, she will begin meeting with and surveying teachers to determine which issues to raise during negotiations.

Munch acknowledged that changes in public education nationally as well as in Louisiana and in Jefferson could have a major effect on teachers, and she wants to make sure Jefferson teachers have a voice. For example, Gov. Bobby Jindal has proposed an education reform package that state union leaders have criticized.

Delesdernier agreed that teachers need to be heard, but he also wants an "unwavering commitment" from the union that advancing student achievement is its top priority.

"We need to change the focus of everything we do," he said. "Right now I don't feel (the contract) is reflective of a performance-based school system."